Shoe pressing apparatus



Jan. 22, 1935.

w. s. ASHTON 1,988,772 sHpE PRESSING APPARATUS Filed Feb. 27, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet l Jan. 22, 1935.

W. S. ASHTON SHOE PRESSING APPARATUS Filed Feb 27, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 JF/Fnfm? ZZZ ism 5-flshifan Patented Jan. 22, 1935 UNITED STATES 1,988,772 SHOE PRESSING APPARATUS William 8. Ashton, Watertown, Mass, assignor to Hood Rubber Company, Inc., Watertown, Mass., a corporation of Delaware Application February 2'7, 1934, Serial No. 713,102 6 Claims. (01. 12-38) This invention relates to shoe-pressing apparatus of the type wherein a fluid-pressed diaphragm is utilized in the pressing of a sole or other shoe part onto the lasted shoe assembly.

The chief objects of the invention are to provide improved apparatus in which difierent degrees of pressure may be applied simultaneously at different portions of the shoe, to provide improved apparatus in which heavy pressures may be utilized without objectionably straining the diaphragm at its free portions, to provide for elimination to a large degree of objectionable frictional pulling or dragging of the diaphragm upon the shoe parts, and to provide simplicity in the construction of the apparatus and to provide convenience and uniformity of operation.

These and further objects will be apparent from the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of shoe-pressing apparatus constructed according to and embodying the invention in its preferred form, the mechanism for pressing the shoe assembly against the diaphragm being in its retracted position.

Fig. 2 is a front elevation, with parts broken away, of the apparatus of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic view of the fluidpressure system for operating the shoe-pressing mechanism. I

Fig. 4 is a section taken along the line 4- of Fig. 2, but showing the shoe assembly pressed against the diaphragm.

Fig. 5 is a section taken along the line 5-5 of Fig. 4.

The invention is of special utility in the manufacture of rubber footwear such as tennis shoes for the pressing on of soles having turned up margins. Such a shoe assembly is shown in the drawings in which a shoe upper is mounted upon a last 11 and has an insole 12 and an outsole 13, the latter requiring pressure against its bottom and also against the side of its turned up margin 14 to be adhesively united to the shoe assembly.

A supporting framework 15 has mounted at its upper end a bracket structure 16 upon which is mounted a fluid-pressure box 17 having integral therewith a pair or vertically bored guides 18, 18 at its sides.

The box is closed at its upper side by a lower diaphragm 19, and an upper, shoe-contacting diaphragm 20 mounted above the first. The two diaphragms are clamped in fluid sealing relation to the box margin, preferably with a spacing member 21 providing a space 22 between the diaphragms at their marginal portions, and an overlying clamping plate 23 extending inwardly over the upper diaphragm to some extent to cause the diaphragm under pressure to bulge toward and against the shoe rather than away 5 from it. The diaphragms preferably are of elastic material, such as rubber or rubberized fabric, and as greater pressure is usually required at the bottom of the sole than at the sole margins and more of a progressively upward l0 pressure application is desired at the latter portions, the upper diaphragm may desirably be of greater stretchability than the lower diaphragm. In some cases, however, it may be desirable to provide the two diaphragms of the same degree of stretchability, or, even a greater stretchability in the lower diaphragm than in the upper one, depending on the type of sole or other shoe part to be pressed onto the assembly. 20

An inlet 24 is provided for admitting pressure fluid into the box behind the lower diaphragm, and a second inlet 25 is provided at the spacing member 21 for admitting pressure fluid between the two diaphragms. Any suitable pressure fluid may be used but it is preferred to use water, which is a good rubber lubricant and is substantially non-compressible.

Because of the spaced apart relation of the diaphragms made possible by the spacer member 21, the diaphragms are better able to slip relative to each other in becoming adjusted to conform to the shape of the shoe than if they were in contact throughout. The relative movement of the diaphragms is facilitated also by the lubrication afforded by the water or other fluid between them.

The construction and arrangement makes possible the use of a heavy fluid pressure in the box chamber where it is needed for the stifiest parts of the shoe sole, and a lesser fluid pressure between the diaphragms at the sides of the sole where the sole material is less stiff and less pressure is required, and as the diaphragm at these side portions is of but a single thickness and may be of greater stretchability than the lower diaphragm, it is adapted to fit the sole shape well and to press the turned up portions of the sole progressively upward with less dragging or pulling on the sole than if but a single diaphragm were used. As the force of resisting the fluid pressure in the box at the marginal portions of the lower diaphragm is not taken by that dia phragm alone but is divided between the two diaphragms, being transmitted in part by the intervening fluid, neither diaphragm is excessively box diaphragms and in the chamber need not be varied during a pressing operation or during a series'of pressing operations, the pressing being eflected simply by moving the shoe assembly to a pressing position against the diaphragm. For this purpose a cross-head structure is provided comprising a pair of guide rods 26, 26, reciprocable vertically in guides 18, 18, theserods being comnected at their upper ends by a cross member 2'! and at their lower ends by a pair of .vertically spaced cross bars 28, 29.

'At the underside of the upper cross member 27 is mounted a last-contacting foot 30, this being horizontally adjustable along an arm 31 projecting from the cross member and being held in its adjusted position by means of a latch 32 engageable in notches in the arm. At the rear side of the cross member is mounted a shoe-contacting foot 33, this being pivoted to the lower end of a bar 34 which is vertically adjustable on the cross member and is held in position by means of a latch 36 engageable with teeth on the bar.

The cross head structure is raised and lowered to effect the shoe pressing by means of a pneumatic or other fluid-pressure cylinder 37 mountin a boss 35 ed at the underside of the box 17, the piston rod 38 of which passes freely through apertures in the cross bars 28 and 29 and has a driving connection with the cross head structure in the form of a wheel 39 riding between these cross bars and having a threadedmounting upon the piston rod. The threaded connection, together with the adjustable mountings of the presser feet 30 and 33, afiord the necessary adjustments for providing the proper travel of the cross head structure to accord with the size and shape of the last upon which the shoe assembly is mounted. The piston rod 38 extends downward through an aperture in a cross piece 40 of the frame and has threaded upon it at its lower end a stop nut 41 by which to limit the descent of the piston rod and cross head structure and accordingly to determinethe amount of pressure that shall be exerted upon the shoe assembly against the diaphragm.

The fluid pressure cylinder is double acting,

the fluid passages to the two sides of the pistons being connected with two of the ports of a fourway valve 42. The other two ports of the valve are connected respectively to a pressure fluid line 43 and an exhaust silencer 44.

The valve 42 is operated by a sprocket 45 and chain 46 on the sprocket, one end of the chain being connected by a tension spring 47- to cross piece "40 of the frame, and the other end of the chain being attached to the upper end of a bar 48 mounted for vertical reciprocation on the frame and having a foot pedal 49 at its lower end.

For supplying the chamber 17 with water or other suitable 24 is connected with a valved pipe 50 having a funnel extension 51 disposed above the dia phragm so that the water may be poured into the chamber to the desired level. A pet cock 52 facilitates the escape of air from the chamber during the filling. A second valved pipe and funnel 53 isconnected to the inlet 25 to permit pouring of the desired amount or water or other its adjusted pressure fluid, the inlet connection suitable fluid into the space between the diaphragms. This arrangement provides a convenient adjusting device, additional to the mechanical adjusting devices hereinbefore described, to effect the desired pressure against the shoe, and by inserting the desired amount of fluid in the space between the diaphragms the pressure at the side margins of the shoe may be conveniently controlled. Also, the amounts of fluid in the two compartments may be conveniently varied to accord with changes in the types of work to be pressed.

Except when the pedal 49 is depressed, the cross head structure remains in its elevated, retracted position, permitting a lasted'shoe assembly to be positioned on the diaphragm. Assuming the presser feet 30 and 33, the wheel 89 and the stop nut 41 to have been properly adjusted, and thedesired amount of fluid disposed in the chamber and between the diaphragms, depression of the pedal 49 causes the pressure fluid in the cylinder 3'7 to depress the piston and its connected cross head assembly until the stop nut 41 prevents further descent byengagement with its frame abutment.

The lasted shoe assembly will then be held pressed by the feet 30 and 33 against the fluid backed diaphragm structure, the action of the latter being as hereinbefore described, until the pedal 49 is released. Upon such release, the spring 47 causes the valve to rotate and reverse 'the flow of thepressure fluid in the cylinder 37, causing the cross head structure to rise and release the lasted shoe assembly and permit the operator to replace the latter with another.

I claim:

1. Shoe-pressing apparatus comprising two flexible diaphragms and a body of fluid confined between them, a chamber of which the assembly thus defined constitutes a wall, and a body of fluid in said chamber.

2. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 including means for pressing a shoe against the diaphragm assembly- 3. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 including means for conducting fluid to and from the chamber. I

4. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 in which the diaphragms are of determinate relative stretchability for concurrently applying difl'erent chamber having as a wall thereof a flexible dia phragm, a second flexible diaphragm n overlying the first in such relation as to be adapted to exert pressure against a portion of the shoe by reason of fluid pressure behind the first said diaphragm, said diaphragms being anchored'to the chamber wall with portions of the diaphragms near the shoe-contacting zone held spaced apart, and a fluid confined between the diaphragms.

6'. Sh0e-pressing apparatus comprising means for bracing a shoe assembly, a fluid pressure chamber having as a wall thereof a flexible diaphragm structure comprising a portion adapted to exert pressure against the bottom of the shoe and a portion adapted to be pressed against the side of the shoe, the latter portion of the diaphragm structure having a fluid-containing subchamber defined by opposite fiexible walls adapted to be held apart by fluid in the subchamber, and means for conducting fluid into the said chamber.

WJLLTAM S. ASHTON. 

